Yes, the Nikon D3500 is seven years old. Yes, it's discontinued. But this camera is still a gem. It defies the usual rules about aging tech and remains one of the most-recommended DSLRs for beginners.

Nikon may have revealed its biggest (and worst kept) secret of the year last week, when it finally introduced the Z6 and Z7 full-frame mirrorless cameras. But those shooters are geared toward ...